USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 32
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 32
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Five members of the Orr family, sons of Wil- liam Orr, of Jackson, settled in Milton at differ- ent dates. They were John, Humphrey, Wil- liam, Russell, and Isaac. Many of their de- scendants continue to reside here.
Henry Lingo settled in 1813 on a farm north- east of the center. His sons were Allen, Joseph, Robert, Samuel, John, Henry, and Hamilton. His daughter Susan became the wife of Robert Mckenzie. Several of the sons lived and died in this township.
Robert Price, afterwards Judge Price, came to the little village now called by his name, in 1817, and was one of its prominent men for several years.
Robert Rose, one of the oldest residents of Ma- honing county, and perhaps the oldest man within its borders, was born near Bath, Virginia, April 7, 1786. When about fourteen years old he came to
Poland township with his father, Jesse Rose, who settled in the eastern part of Poland, near the Pennsylvania line. Jesse Rose moved from Po- land to Ellsworth and died there. His family consisted of eight children, Robert being n'aw the only survivor. David, Robert, Jesse, and James were the sons; Mary, Nancy, Rhoda, and Hannah the daughters. David and Jesse set- tled and died in Ellsworth. James settled in Jackson but moved west. Mary became the wife of William Howard and lived in Ellsworth. Nancy married John Brothers and lived in Pennsylvania. Rhoda married John Rose and lived in Mecca, Trumbull county. Hannah married Ebenezer Cole and lived on the old farm where her father settled, in Poland. Robert Rose was married in Poland to Catharine Shoaf, who bore eight children. For his second wife he married Catharine Wortenbarger. About the year 1816 Mr. Rose moved to Milton township, took up and settled upon a farm in the southeast, on the old Palmyra road, where he resided until about thirteen years ago, and has since been liv- ing with his sons in Berlin township. Mr. Rose is one of the few surviving veterans of the War of 1812. His oldest brother was also a soldier of that war. The writer made a visit to Uncle Robert, as he is familiarly called, one pleasant day in November, 1881. One of his "boys," a gray-haired man, directed us to the place where we found the old gentleman. He was in the woods, at least three-quarters of a mile from the house, in his shirt-sleeves and was busily engaged in gathering hickory-nuts. Few men reach their ninety-sixth year, and very few attain to Mr. Rose's age and retain full possession of their fac- ulties. We found Mr. Rose's memory of early events clear, distinct, and accurate. His hear- ing is but little impaired. His mind is active, and his face and conversation cheerful. In his early years he was a very Hercules in physical strength, and even now, considering how near he is to the age of a centenarian, his vigor is re- markable.
Calvin Shepard came out with Judge Price from New Jersey, and worked for him some years. He married Isabella Beck and settled on land now owned by John Scott. There were eight children, seven of whom are living, none of them in this township.
Frederick Byers, from Pennsylvania, came to
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the township about 1824, and settled just west of the river, on the farm now owned by Robert Weasner. His son Frederick occupied it after him a number of years. Mr. Byers, Sr., caused the village to be laid out which is called by his first name.
John Eckis came from Maryland to Spring- field township in 1801, and in 1826 moved to Milton, and was a pioneer of the southeastern part of the township. Even at that date there was no improved farm west of his place, until the river was reached.
John McCollum recently deceased, came to the township in 1828, and took up an unim- proved farm in the southeastern quarter.
From 1830 to 1840 the township grew rapidly in population. In that period both Frederick and Pricetown were flourishing villages. But the ad- vent of the New York and Ohio canal, turning business and travel aside, gave these places a staggering blow; and a few years later the rail- road came through and finished them; for the iron horse, like the canal mule, "passed by on the other side" of Milton. In 1840 the census re- turns gave the township a population of twelve- hundred and seventy-seven. Each succeeding decade has witnessed a gradual falling off, until now the entire population is between seven and eight hundred, making this the smallest township in the county.
PRICE'S MILLS.
Price's Mills, or Pricetown, was once a flour- ishing place, but is so no longer. It is situated on the line between Milton and Newton, and as nearly all of its business enterprises were carried on in this township, we include a sketch of them here.
Jesse Holliday came to this place among the very first of the settlers, and in 1804 erected a grist-mill, carding-mill, and saw-mill. The grist- mill was a good size for those days ; two stories in height, perhaps 34x40 feet, and contained two run of granite stones. The wheel was an undershot, twenty-two feet in diameter. The saw-mill had an old-fashioned " flutter wheel." These mills were on the sites of the present grist mill and saw-mill. The carding-mill was just north of the grist-mill. Holliday run these mills until 1816, and then sold them to John Price. A year or two later they came into the possession of Robert Price, who
operated them many years. In 1834 Price put up a stone flouring-mill. It was badly built and fell down a few years later. It was re- built by Dr. Jonathan I. Tod, son-in-law of Judge Price, who in the meantime had purchased the entire mill property. The mills remained in possession of Dr. Tod and his widow until 1861, when they were purchased by Mr. Calender, father of the present owner. The saw-mill now standing was also built by Price.
In 1837 Dr. Tod built a foundry on the west side of the river. It was in operation five or six years, and was then changed into a linseed oil manufactory. It disappeared some years ago. In 1842 Dr. Tod erected a foundry on the east side of the river. Calender bought it and changed it into a flax-mill.
J. M. Calender erected a frame building north of the grist-mill in 1866, and transferred the ma- chinery of the grist-mill to it. He converted the stone mill into a woolen factory, where spinning, weaving, cloth-dressing, etc., were successfully carried on until about the time of his death. In 1875 the machinery of the grist-mill was restored to the stone building.
The first tavern in the place was kept by Thomas L. Fenton, on the northwest corner of the Newton side. Robert Weasner, Peter Bell, Peter Smith, and Noah Smith have since kept tavern in the place. Bell built a second build- ing for a hotel.
Who kept the first store we are unable to learn for a certainty. Booth & Elliot, and Elliot & Ingersol have been mentioned as the first store- keepers. Robert Price began business as a mer- chant in 1817. Jonathan I. Tod, William Por- ter, Carpenter & Avery, Porter & Bronson, Por- ter & Moffat, James M. Calender, Fiester & Por- ter, Charles Curtis, and Noah Smith have all been engaged in the mercantile business here. John L. Greer kept a second store for a time, while Carpenter & Avery were in business. Some of the firms mentioned did a large bus- iness. But the place is now scarcely able to support one small grocery.
AN EXTINCT VILLAGE.
Frederick, or Fredericksburg as it is frequently called, was a flourishing little village on the river, near the south line of the township, forty or fifty years ago. Now a few dilapidated old houses and a church, windowless and almost roofless,
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remain to mark its site. But in days gone by, those primitive days which shall return no more forever, when the stages from Pittsburg and Cleveland passed through Frederick daily, the little village was at the zenith of its prosperity.
The first merchant in the place was a man named Swift. This is all that is known of him. Peter Kinnaman, from Petersburg, this county, began keeping a store in a part of Lebaugh's tavern in 1834. Soon after he built a store and occupied it some years. John Eckis was the next merchant in the place. Carpenter & Avery had a small store for a time. Matthias & George Christy and Mattox & Raymond were merchants in the later years of the village.
Louis Lebaugh kept the first and the principal hotel. The stage stopped at his door. His house was on the north side of the road and op- posite the corner. Moses Everett kept another house of entertainment west of the bridge, on the south side of the road. Frederick Myers was the landlord of a long two-story building, situated west of Everett's, between it and the corner. His tavern was a large one for those days. The three houses were all open to the public at the same time.
A distillery was operated by Dyer Fitch for a short time. Mecca, or lubricating oil, found in the vicinity, got in the water used so much that it spoiled the liquor, and the business had to be dropped.
A tannery was successfully worked for a time by a German named John Kreitzinger. In ad- dition to these industries the busy little place in- cluded among its inhabitants the following named artisans : William Cowell, hatter; Daniel Mauen, tailor; McWilliams and William Shoe- maker, wagonmakers, as well as several black- smiths and shoemakers.
CHURCH HISTORY.
At present there are but two church buildings in the township, the Methodist and the Presby- terian. The Disciples once had two churches, but they no longer have an organization. The Germans go to church in Berlin.
THE PRESBYTERIANS.
In 1807 or 1808 a Presbyterian church was organized by the citizens of Newton and Milton, and a church erected in Newton near Price's mills. Rev. James Boyd was the first pastor of
the congregations of Newton and Warren. He died in 1813 and is buried in the old graveyard at Pricetown. Rev. Joshua Beer was the next pastor. There were then several supplies for a number of years. Rev. William O. Stratton was a settled pastor for a number of years, com- mencing about 1836. During his ministry the old church ceased to be used, and a new one was built at Orr's corners about 1847, which is still called the Newton church. Rev. J. B. Mil- ler, Rev. Thomas P. Spear, Revs. Sharp and Taylor have presided since. When the Jackson church was built in 1871, it drew away a large portion of the members of the Newton church, and left it in a weak condition. It is now with- out a pastor. We append names of some of the prominent and active members of this church in carly years : Nathaniel and William Stanley, Thomas Gilmer ; elders, John Craig, Thomas McCoy, Nicholas Van Emmon, Isaac Winans, Jacob Winans, second, Emanuel Hoover, Sr. and Jr., Robert Russell, John Johnston.
THE METHODISTS.
The Methodist church was organized about 1812. Meetings were held in the school-house at Orr's corners, often on week-days, for the ac- commodation of circuit preachers whose duties were multifarious. Rev. Billings O. Plimpton, Dr. Bostwick, Nicholas Gee, Ira Eddy, Rev. Prosser, and others were early preachers. The prominent members of the church were the Winans, Vaughns, Tillinghast Morey, Isaac Mitchell, and others. About 1830 the organiza- tion built a brick church at Baldwin's corners in the northeastern part of the township. This building was destroyed by a gale in 1849. A few years later the present church, a small frame building, was erected. The church keeps up its organization and has regular preaching in con- nection with other societies.
From an old History of Methodism in the West we make the following extract :
During the summer of 1810 Mr. Tillinghast Mowry [Morey | moved from Connecticut and settled in Milton, one mile west of the center, where his house became a welcome home for Methodist preachers who were sent to labor on Hartford circuit, and was for many years a preaching place. Father Henry Shewel, residing in Deerfield, Ohio, after toil- ing through the week with his hands would on Sunday find his way through the woods to the new neighboring settlements to break the bread of life to the hungry souls in the wilder- ness. He established a preaching appointment at Mr. Mowry's and a class was formed comprising Tillinghast
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Mowry, leader, and wife; Jacob Allen and wife, Joseph Depew, Margaret Hudson, Mr. Cole and wife, and perhaps others. The appointment was soon added to Hartford cir- cuit and supplied with circuit preaching.
THE DISCIPLES.
The Disciples organized as early as 1830. Wil- liam Hayden and Walter Scott began preaching here about 1827, and baptized several persons. Many of the Methodists joined them. They held their meetings in the Orr's corners school- house for a time, then built a small church one- fourth of a mile east of the corners. Their or- ganization went down more than twenty years ago. Early preachers: Webb, Flick, Shaffer, and others. Early and prominent members : Isaac Mitchell, Thomas L. Fenton, John Thatcher, Joseph Pierce, Amos Pierce, Joseph Pierce, Jr., and Jacob Winans, Sr.
The Disciples also built a church at Freder- ick, the frame of which is still standing. This church was organized through the efforts of Her- man Reeves, who became its first pastor. The house was erected in 1852. Reeves, Shaffer, Griffin, Phillips, Hillock, Chapman, Megowan, and others were preachers in this church. Mat- thias Christy and William Cowell were the first elders ; Christy also preached occasionally. John Carson, M. Smith, and Aaron Fink were elders and prominent members. The church was organized with thirty or forty members, and the number increased to nearly one hundred. Many members moved, and the war and its issues caused divisions which resulted in the dissolu- tion of the organization.
BURIAL PLACES.
The first settlers were all buried in Newton near Price's mills. There are three small pub- lic burying places in this township, of which the one west of the river and a little north of the center road is probably the oldest.
POST-OFFICES.
The first post-office was established at Price's mills, or Pricetown, about the year 1808. Al- though Milton is the name of the post-office it has been kept in Newton township almost if not quite as much as in Milton. The office was originally on the route between Warren and Ravenna. The first postmaster was probably Judge Reuben S. Clark, succeeded by Robert Price, Jonathan I. Tod, Frank Porter, Noah
Smith, and J. M. Calender, the present incum- bent.
The post-office at Frederick was established previous to 1830. John Shoemaker, Sr., was probably the first postmaster. His successors: Peter Kinnaman, John Eckis, John Shoemaker, Jr., David Byers, Lydia A. Steffey, Robert Weas- ner, Madison Traill, John Carson. Since Mr. Carson took the office, about fifteen years ago, it has been kept in Berlin township. The mail is received twice a week.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Tracy Bronson, who lived just over the line in Newton township, was the practicing phy- sician in Milton for many years, and is remem- bered with gratitude and affection by many of his old patients.
Dr. George Ewing had quite a large practice in the township. He settled on a farm but con- tinued attending to the calls of his patients up to the time of his death. There have been many other physicians in the township, but none that have been permanent residents.
THE FIRST SCHOOLS.
For several years teachers were paid by sub- scription, their wages in summer terms being four or five dollars per month, and nine or ten in winter, not all in cash but frequently in grain or orders on the store-keepers.
Daniel Depew, an aged man, was one of the first school-teachers in a log-cabin situated east of the river. A very few of his pupils are still living. Other early teachers in different parts of Milton were Tillinghast Morey, Robert White, Margaret Depew, Nancy Best, Peggy Stevens, Gain Robison, Joseph Duer, Phebe Canfield, and Billings O. Plimpton, afterwards quite cele- brated as a Methodist preacher.
John Johnston taught school two winters, 1811-12 and 1812-13, in a little log school- house which was situated on the center road about three-fourths of a mile west of the Jackson township line. The school-house contained an immense fire-place in a chimney at one end of the room. The house was perhaps sixteen feet square; paper was used for glass in the windows, and the door was pinned together with wooden pins in place of nails. Probably twenty scholars attended this school while Mr. Johnston taught. The cabin just described was used as a school-
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house until about 1818, when a building of hewed logs was erected on the lot where the present school-house stands.
The method of instruction in these early schools was somewhat different from that which is now in use. First, the pupil was taught the alphabet; then spelling, reading, writing, in suc- cession, and finally arithmetic. Many of the old settlers never attended a school in which grammar or geography was taught.
IN THE WILD WOODS.
As late as 1806 three Indians, rejoicing in the euphonious names of Nicksaw, Cayuga, and Cadashua, were living on the west bank of the river on the best of terms with their white neigh- bors. They subsisted chiefly by hunting and fishing, though they raised a little corn on the river bottom. There are those now living who remember having seen these Indians at their homes.
Game of all kinds was abundant. Squirrels and other small pests attacked the corn and wheat, and wolves were ever ready to make way with lambs and other young stock. It was no uncommon thing for a farmer to wake up in the morning and find that a bear had killed his hog, or a wolf destroyed some of his sheep.
The last known instance of a bear in the township was in 1835. At that date Joseph Mead tracked one across Milton into Newton where it was killed.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Probably the first bridge across the Mahoning above Warren, was a trestle-work bridge on the line between Newton and Milton. This broke down in 1822 while Joseph Depew was crossing it with three yoke of oxen. Four of the oxen were killed by the fall, but the driver and the head yoke got out uninjured. This bridge was soon replaced by another of similar construction, which the breaking up of the ice in 1831 de- stroyed. Soon after the bridge now standing was built in a more substantial manner.
Captain Vanetten had a distillery in very early times. During the War of 1812 it was run by his wife, who, the captain declared, could make more and better whiskey from the same amount of grain than he could. There were numerous stills in all parts of the settlement. James Orr built a distillery and an ashery near Orr's corners
about the year 1817. Soon after he sold the distillery to his brother John. John Hineman built a distillery in the northeastern corner of the township about the same date. Some years later John Reed built a third near the location of the first.
John Johnston and James Moore started a tannery in 1823. It was situated about one-half mile north of the center road on Johnston's farm. It was worked until 1839, when it was moved by Samuel Johnston to his farm in Jack- son, where he carried on the business until about 1870. Robert Laughlin started a tannery some time after this. In 1827 James Moore built an- other one-fourth of a mile west of Orr's corners.
A grist-mill and a saw-mill were built by Jesse Holliday and Joseph Hoover on the Mahoning, about two and one-half miles south of Price's mills, in 1824. A carding machine was operated in connection with these mills for some time. The grist-mill was sold to a man named Brian and later to John Nolan. While he was the owner it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. A few old timbers still remain to mark the spot where it stood. John and George Forder some years later had a grist-mill and saw-mill on their land.
A BEAR STORY.
Aaron Porter was a famous hunter, and the history of his experiences and achievements would make an interesting book. Early and late, in every season and all kinds of weather, he busied himself in the pursuit which he so dearly loved. With his moccasins-he never would wear boots while hunting-and his rifle, he could often be seen striding through the forest, either going in quest of adventure or re- turning victorious after a day's exploits. He was a man of strong limbs and powerful frame, capa- ble of enduring almost any amount of physical exertion. Miles were nothing to him. With an easy, swinging, rapid gait he would traverse the woods hour after hour, apparently with no thought of fatigue or desire for rest. The man who would attempt to follow "Uncle Aaron " all day would have been considered rash indeed.
We will here note one of his many hunting episodes, as told by his son. One day while Porter and his son Samuel were hunting near the north fork of the Mahoning, while ranging the woods they suddenly came across an old In-
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dian and a young brave who had treed an old she bear and her cubs, and were attempting to secure them. The animals had taken refuge within a large hollow tree and were some dis- tance from the ground. Porter came where the red men were, and at once comprehending the condition of affairs, made signs to the In- dians that they should allow him to cut the tree down. The old hunter shook his head, and in- timated that the bear would run away. Porter pointed to two dogs which were following him; but the Indian uttered a contemptuous "Ugh !" and declared that the dogs were "too light." As they were only small water spaniels, his reason- ing was apparently well founded. The Indians soon lighted a fire at the base of the tree, and as the smoke found its way up the cavity where the bear was, she began to scramble upward in a very lively manner, until she reached an opening just large enough to put her head through. As soon as the black nose was visible to the hunters, and while its owner was in full and complete en- joyment of fresh air, the old Indian fired. The bear fell back into the tree and there was much noise and commotion among the cubs. Porter then asked the Indian if he should cut the tree, and, receiving an affirmative reply, set to work and soon the trunk went crackling to the earth; and lo! out rushed the bear which the Indian thought he had killed, and bounded away at a lively rate. Uncle Aaron fired off his gun to ex- cite the dogs, and all started in hot pursuit of the running game except the old Indian, who stopped to secure the cubs, and then followed as fast as his limbs could carry him.
The dogs, which were well trained, and had participated in many a bear-hunt before this one, soon brought the animal at bay, by biting her hind legs and otherwise worrying her. Porter, as usual, caught up with the dogs before the other hunters, but he could do nothing, as his gun was empty. Before he had time to reload his son came up, and taking his gun, uncle Aaron walked up close to the bear's head and shot her. Soon the young Indian arrived, and he, too, poured his rifle's charge into the bear, which Porter's shot had already killed. The old Indian next appeared and took his turn at shoot- ing. By this time the animal was "dead enough to skin;" as all the hunters unanimously agreed ; and the Indians, with deft and skillful fingers,
soon had the hide removed. The old red man then cut off a large piece of the shoulder, which he offered to Porter. The latter declined it by shaking his head. The Indian, however, insist- ed ; made signs of eating, pointed to the meat and then to his mouth to declare that it was good ; and Porter, to please him, accepted the gift and wrapped it carefully in some bark, that he might carry it home without the inconven- ience of being daubed with bear's grease. The young Indian next cut off some of the meat and wrapped it up as Porter had done. The old warrior then took the remainder of the carcass, entrails and all, put the cubs, which were still alive, into it, wrapped the whole securely in the bear skin, making a bundle plenty large and heavy for one to carry, shouldered it and marched toward his wigwam, doubtless well pleased with the result of his hunting, and thankful for the white man's assistance.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
John Mckenzie, the fifth child of John and Elizabeth Mckenzie, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1803. He came to Ohio with his par- ents in 1805, who settled in Milton township on the farm now owned by Frank Keefer. They were the first settlers in that locality, and the country was then a wilderness. At the age of twenty-one the subject of this sketch was mar- lied to Miss Sally Vanetten and has had a fami- ily of ten children, viz: Royal, Anna, Simeon, Harriet, Maryette, Martin Van, Jeannette, Ad- dison, and Alice. One child died in infancy Maryette, Anna, and Jeannette are also dead.
Robert Russel was born in Pennsylvania in 1778. His father's family, consisting of his wife and five children, came to Ohio in 1803 and set- tled in Poland township on a farm now occupied by Mrs. Sullivan. The father lived to the good old age of ninety years. Robert Russell fol- lowed shoemaking for over fifty years. He mar- ried in 1814 Miss Anna French and had a large family of sons, named James, Alexander, John, Robert, Enoch, Joseph, Robert, Enoch (second), Joseph, and Ebenezer. The only survivors are James and Enoch. James, the eldest of the family, was born in 1815. In 1843 he married Miss Kate Gillmer and has two children, Ann Elizabeth and Sarah Margaret. Mr. Russell has always followed farming and stock raising, and now occupies the old homestead, He and his
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